HDI

The HDI is a studio preamp and direct box for recording instruments such as bass, acoustic guitar, keyboards and modular synthesizers. The Level control drives the input stage and is read on a front-panel meter, while the Color control blends between a clean signal and amp-style distortion and saturation. An Opto compressor can be engaged to tame peaks, a High-Pass Filter removes excess low frequencies added by Color, and a Presence control lifts the highs and high-mids.

The unit uses an oversized custom-wound Jensen transformer and offers both mic-level and line-level outputs. An unbuffered Thru output can feed an amplifier while the direct signal is recorded, and a Processed output can send the colored signal to an amp or amp modeler at the same time as a mixer or interface. A dedicated Synth Input with lower sensitivity accepts hot signals from modular synths and other outboard gear.

The front panel is 1/4" thick milled gunmetal anodized metal with chrome knobs. It works as a standalone unit or in a standard 19" rack using the supplied mounting hardware, and one or two units fit side by side in 2RU.